Ms. Janice Blue, 1708 Rosewood, Houston, Texas 77004 (713-522-6899)
appeared and stated that Mr. Tillman Fertitta wanted to add live tigers to
his Downtown Aquarium complex; that she read the white tigers were on
order but some cubs were not yet born; that she could not believe he would
make spectacles of such magnificent animals; that tigers belonged in the
wild and not in cages and white tigers could not survive in the wild but
should not be bred just for entertainment purposes. Mayor White, Council
Members Galloway and Sekula-Gibbs absent. Mayor Pro Tem Alvarado
presiding.

Miss Anna Nugent, 1907 North Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77098
(713-522-4059) appeared and stated that she was in third grade and had
been studying tigers about 2-1/2 years and did not think they should be
used for entertainment and kept in cages, but instead should be left in
the wild where they belonged; and if they were kept in cages they needed a
professional to take care of them. Council Members Galloway and Sekula-Gibbs
absent.

Upon questions by Council Member Khan, Ms. Blue stated that you could
learn nothing about tigers from watching them in cages and it was
absolutely and morally wrong. Council Member Galloway absent.
Upon questions by Council Member Garcia, Miss Nugent stated that tigers
did not like being in cages and their lives would be better if left where
they belonged. Council Member Garcia thanked Miss Nugent for coming to
Council and expressing her concerns. Council Members Galloway and Ellis
absent.

Council Member Edwards thanked Miss Nugent for being committed enough
to come today. Council Members Galloway and Ellis absent.
Council Member Alvarado stated that she understood the white tigers were
not in the wild and in fact were bred; and Ms. Blue stated that it was
just horrible, but Mr. Marr was a tiger preservationist and could answer
questions even better than she. Council Members Galloway and Ellis absent.

Mr. Cory Davis, 1094 Lampath, Kelowna, British Columbia V1C1N2
(216-346-0946) appeared and stated that he was from Canada, traveling the
United States and Mr. Fertitta’s restaurant was very nice but tigers were
endangered and the white tigers he wanted to purchase were being bred for
his use; that there were only about 3,500 tigers left and it was because
of the same point of view that they were objects; that he heard the
gentleman say he was doing this for conservation of tigers, but it would
do nothing for conservation because people would only think of them as
objects. Council Members Galloway and Ellis absent.

Mr. Anthony Marr, 4118 W. 11th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada V6R2L6 (216-346-0946) appeared and stated that he was an
international tiger preservationist specializing in the Bengal tiger; that
Mr. Fertitta’s plan to install white tigers did not come down as tiger
conservation for several reasons; that white tigers were of no
conservation value whatsoever; that he had never seen one in a natural
habitat and it was because it was poorly camouflaged and could not catch
prey, to him the only reason to keep a tiger in captivity would be to try
and protect its gene pool and keep them from becoming extinct, but white
tigers were without that value; that breeding of white tigers was also
very unethical as the white fur gene was recessive and for them to have
white pups you had to inbreed and sometimes as closely as parent to cub
and among siblings and because of the deliberate inbreeding they were full
of genetic defects and deformities in the body; that the bred tigers which
were not bought to be caged would be sold for hunting and shot point
blank; that the entire business was onerous and carried no ethical or
conservation merit. Council Members Galloway and Holm absent.

Upon questions by Council Member Alvarado, Mr. Marr stated that up to
this point no tiger had so far been proven capable of being rehabilitated
back into the wild. Council Members Galloway, Holm and Ellis absent.

Council Member Sekula-Gibbs stated that some thought the white tiger
was beautiful and they bred them for their rarity and beauty and it would
bring people to come and see; that in the natural state they could not
survive but it was giving a life it would not normally have. Council
Members Galloway, Garcia and Ellis absent.

Council Member Quan moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose
of continuing discussion by Council relating to tigers, seconded by
Council Member Sekula-Gibbs. All voting aye. Nays none. Council Members
Galloway, Garcia and Ellis absent. MOTION 2004-0177 ADOPTED

Upon questions by Council Member Goldberg, Mr. Marr stated that some
zoos came in a wide range with some having wide motes and open spaces and
so there were good and bad zoos; that in general he opposed human beings
deriving pleasure from the suffering of animals. Council Members Lawrence,
Galloway, Garcia, Ellis and Berry absent.

Upon questions by Council Member Quan, Mr. Marr stated that even
releasing the yellow tiger into the wild had not been successful because
they did not know how to hunt, raise babies or deal with local tigers;
that if a tiger happened to be born in captivity out of a natural
procedure it would be more humane to raise in captivity but that was the
lesser of two evils, but in a puppy mill. Council Members Galloway, Holm,
Garcia and Ellis absent.

Council Member Quan moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose
of continuing discussion by Council relating to tigers, seconded by
Council Member Edwards. All voting aye. Nays none. Council Members
Galloway, Holm, Garcia and Ellis absent. MOTION 2004-0178 ADOPTED

Upon questions by Council Member Edwards, Mr. Marr stated that white
tigers were purposely bred to be white; that if you naturally bred 100
tigers none would be white the percentage was so low and then when one was
born he could be raised until about 2-1/2 when they would then have to
leave and would die; that he had never seen a white tiger in the wild in
all his years and it was a fair statement to say if you saw a white tiger
it was bred to be so. Council Members Galloway and Holm absent

Council Member Berry encouraged Mr. Marr to visit the Houston Zoo; and
upon questions, Mr. Marr stated that his primary reason for being present
today was that he was opposed to any captivity of animals. Council Members
Galloway and Holm absent

Mr. James Prappas, 410 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002 (713-515-9395)
appeared and stated that he was director of animal operations at Landry’s
Restaurants, Inc. with 23 years in animal care, conservation and research
and he was aware of Mr. Marr’s work and it was significant; that Landry’s
was dedicated to providing the best environment for their animals and all
their staff was involved in conservation efforts; that AZA recognized
Landry’s as a professional well run organization and knew they could give
animals the best possible care and maintenance and they did participate in
AZA’s goals. Council Members Galloway and Holm absent

Council Member Garcia moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose
of extending time for Mr. James Prappas to speak, seconded by Council
Member Alvarado. All voting aye. Nays none. Council Members Galloway and
Holm absent. MOTION 2004-0179 ADOPTED

Mr. Prappas stated that without abilities to go to countries and
support them financially there would not be Bengal tigers, etc., for Mr.
Marr to conduct research on to understand how to save them if not for
captivity. Council Members Galloway and Holm absent

Upon questions by Council Member Lawrence, Mr. Prappas stated that
their exhibits were being designed as an attachment to the building and by
AZA members; that they did not do caging it was more of an emerging and
would be top notch quality. Council Member Lawrence stated that once it
was designed she would like it sent to her office. Council Members
Galloway and Holm absent

Upon questions by Council Member Edwards, Mr. Prappas stated that AZA
was Association for Zoos and Aquariums; that they wanted the white tigers
as they were captivating and they felt it would generate excitement; that
there would not be a separate fee it was added on to what the existing
exhibit was; that they did allow one HISD school each day to attend free.
Council Member Edwards stated that he had made a previous statement that
third world countries had no interest in caring; and upon questions, Mr.
Prappas stated that the only tigers existing in the U. S. would be in
private breeders hands or zoos, but what he said was most endangered
species exist in countries which were incapable of educating their public
properly to manage their resources and so through many programs in AZA
they sent people to participate in classrooms and in building schools and
in getting them interested; that many in Kenya and many wildlife refugees
were supported by tourism which generated here in the United States and
Great Britain where the money went to help pay authorities; and Council
Member Edwards stated that she did not know he was an expert on Kenya’s
ability to… on whether or not they wanted to educate their children but
appreciated his comments Council Members Galloway, Holm, Sekula-Gibbs and
Berry absent.